Rob goes interdimensional with Department K: Interdimensional Investigators...
Originating within the pages of 2000 AD's all-ages Regened Progs, Department K is one of the few strips to cross over (and adapt itself ) to the standard Prog.
At the time of writing Rory McConville's all-ages strip is still a relative newcomer to 2000 AD. With two done-in-one episodes appearing within Regened, and one longer series appearing within the weekly 2000 AD Prog. Even so, McConville - along with PJ Holden, and Dan Cornwell - has started to fully flesh out a wider universe for his team of Judges.
From their humble origins within Mega-City One, McConville launches this rag-tag bunch onto their interdimensional missions. Where the ever-present Judge Dredd deals with the nitty-gritty and more adult happenings within Mega-City One, Department K doesn't take itself seriously. As such McConville can take a more comical and somewhat cartoonish approach to the 'Dreddverse'. What we get within this trade are three lighthearted strips that introduce this special team of Judges to us, to then throw them against a much wider threat.
Department K (Rory McConville, PJ Holden, Len O'Grady, Jim Campbell)
Originally published within Prog 2196, Department K follows Cadet Tec Judge Afua as she starts her internship within Tec Department K. Set up in the wake of Judge Death's first interdimensional incursion, Department K monitors the multiverse for other potential threats to Mega-City One.
As we follow Afua through the reinforced doors of the Department, McConville starts to show us - along with Afua - the weird and wonderful multiversal sights. Along the journey, Afua is also introduced to the department's other Judges, as well as a few troublesome guests. Chief of these is Dep K's lead, Judge Kirby who along with sarcastic Mechanismo Judge Estabon, and wise-cracking alien Judge Blackcurrent have the thankless task of keeping these threats contained.
Department K works as a great introduction to this team. McConville keeps the familiar aspects of the Dreddverse whilst maintaining Regened's strict all-ages setting. Art duties for this stip come from series co-creator PJ Holden, with colors by Len O'Grady. Much like McConville, Holden and O'Grady capture the essence of the Dreddverse with their respective arts, to then go a little wacky with the art later on. The switch between the detailed lab environment, to the ruins of Earth 43-AA is a great display from Holden. While O'Grady goes from a sterile pallet choice to something far more psychedelic.
Stranded (Rory McConville, PJ Holden, Len O'Grady, Jim Campbell)
Where Department K introduced us to its band of Judges, Stranded dispense with what happened next. As somewhat sequel to the first strip, Stranded deals with the team as they hop between dimensions on the search for a way home. Much like the 90s television show Sliders, here, McConville has a base for how Department K could have gone - four Judges hopelessly lost, trying to find a way home.
Thankfully, it's nothing like that and McConville has something else in store for his dimension-swapping Judges. Taking place months after the previous episode, we catch up with the team who are in a precarious position. As "guests" of Supreme Empress Crellic The Divine, Afua and Kirby find themselves at risk of losing the tech they need to get home. While Crellic and her majordomo taunt the captured Judges about acquiring their dimension tech, Kirby lets slip that it is themselves who are getting played by Dept. K.
Before Crellic has a chance to respond, Estabon and Blackcurrent crash into the hall within a stolen spaceship. As chaos unfolds around them, the team manages to use the stolen ship as a way to get home. But what has become of Department K since they've been missing?
Like before, Holden and O'Grady work well together in creating something that's entirely alien but has those classic Dredd hallmarks. Holden's linework is yet again another grand display of his talents as an artist. And that close-up of Supreme Empress Crellic The Divine once she realizes that she's been played is a real "gulp!" Moment!
Cosmic Chaos (Rory McConville, Dan Cornwell, Len O'Grady, Simon Bowland)
The last story within this collection is Cosmic Chaos, which signaled a change to both Department K's creative team - and the overall narrative. Now serialized between Prog 2234 & 2243, McConville has the page count to not only give a much more in-depth story but to add more character work to his core cast.
Starting things off in Mega-City One, the team is called to the site of the 'Mega-City Staring Championship as an alien entity breaches dimensions. While Mega-City One's finest attempt to kill the creature, Kirby steps in with some good old-fashioned remit work which states that the creature is under their jurisdiction.
Once the panic is over, the group is informed by the creature that they are dimension-hopping in the hope of finding allies to save their world. Not ones to say no - and to do a little research in the process - Dept K hops in their stolen spaceship, and off they go. Upon arriving at the creature's homeworld it's clear that things aren't going well. Not only does a huge rift fills the skies, but other - more dangerous - creatures are also being pulled through it.
With Cosmic Chaos, McConville can flesh out his narrative a lot more. While the opening chapter feels like its Regened counterparts, it soon takes on a much darker feeling. It's very much a cross between Inner-space, Aliens, and Star Wars, as we get adventures inside a dead Locust, H.R. Giger-inspired visuals from Dan Cornwell, and an interdimensional cult that wishes to destroy the multiverse. However, even with its more "grown-up" appeasing story, things are still kept strictly for all ages. As such there are plenty of light-hearted moments, and tonnes of banter as the team deal with this new threat and the fact that they're fighting inside a dead creature. This all ends in a conclusion that's not only unexpected, it perfectly fits in with everything that's gone on before.
While I won't spoil exactly what, it does make you question how McConville is going to keep it contained to just Department K...
Overall, Department K: Interdimensional Investigators is the perfect example of the purpose of the Regened Progs. Not only does the overall narrative stand on its own with its Saturday morning cartoon feel, but it's also the perfect springboard for those looking to jump into the main Progs.
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